Surveillance images from the Aldi store in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., where a man punched another shopper (Broward County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida resident found himself in the hospital after being unexpectedly attacked by an unidentified assailant outside an Aldi grocery store.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office has shared surveillance footage that captures a man striking another individual who was shopping at the Lauderdale Lakes Aldi at around 7 p.m. on October 11. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the footage shows the suspect confronting the shopper, who was accompanied by his service dog inside the store. Authorities reported the suspect waited outside to “sucker punch” the victim.
This seemingly unprovoked assault led the victim to fall and hit his head on the pavement, resulting in “significant and serious injuries” that have left him in a coma.
Information from Broward County Crime Stoppers specifies that the victim suffered “permanent injuries” from the incident.
The victim’s brother, who chose to keep their family identity private, spoke with WPLG, a local news outlet, confirming the victim’s comatose state. He expressed, “This is a complete nightmare for my family. We’re enduring this hardship, but if anyone knows who this person is, they should come forward or contact Crime Stoppers to prevent someone else from experiencing this nightmare.”
The incident, as reported by Crime Stoppers, occurred at 7:17 p.m. on October 11. Surveillance video reveals the suspect approaching the man, who was with his service dog on a leash in one of the store’s aisles, engaging in a verbal exchange, and then exiting the store.
When the victim and his family left the store, the suspect was outside, allegedly waiting for him. The violent attack was caught on camera. Following the attack, the suspect fled the scene.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the suspect to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip at browardcrimestoppers.org, or dial **TIPS (8477) from any cellphone in the United States. Police said that if a tip leads to an arrest, the tipster will be eligible for a $5,000 reward.
